Hard palate
The hard palate is the anterior horizontal bony part of the palate that forms the roof of the oral cavity and floor of the nasal cavity. Most of the hard palate is formed by the palatine processes of the maxillae, the horizontal plates of the palatine bones complete it posteriorly. On its inferior oral surface it is lined by oral mucosa (containing innumerable palatine glands) and on its superior nasal surface it is lined by respiratory mucosa.
It has several foramina including:
- incisive foramen in the anterior hard palate in the midline which transmits the nasopalatine nerve (from the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve)
- greater palatine foramina in the posterolateral aspect of the hard palate which transmits the greater palatine vessels and nerve (from the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve)
- lesser palatine foramina in the posterolateral aspect of the hard palate posterior to the greater palatine foramina which transmits the lesser palatine vessels and nerve (from the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve)
Arterial supply
Branches of several vessels contribute to a rich blood supply of the hard palate:
- greater palatine artery (from the maxillary artery) supplies the vast majority of the hard palate, anterior to the greater palatine foramina
- lesser palatine artery (also from the maxillary artery) supplies a sliver of the hard palate posterior to the greater palatine foramina
Venous drainage
Similarly named veins of the hard palate drain to the pterygoid venous plexus.
Innervation
The sensory innervation of the hard palate is provided by branches of the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve which synapse in the pterygopalatine ganglion:
- greater palatine nerve supplies most of the hard palate, supplying the palate anterior to the greater palatine foramina
- nasopalatine nerve supplies the hard palate anterior to the incisive foramen
Related pathology
